The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1887-06-16
LETTER FROM DANyILLE.
His Life by acknowledgements Lee
ture By Female, DC.

DANvrLE. VA. June IS, 1887.
EDITOR GOLD LEAF:-Sunday morning
about IL o'clock, as the church bells were
ringing, the startling news was rapidly
spread through the city that the body Of
Mr.. II. w. White had been taken from the
canal cold in death. At first all sorts of
runners were afioat, some saying IL was sui
eide, some that he had been foully dealt
with, and others contending that 1t was ae-
cidental drowning. The whole affair was
Shrouded In mystery. After the body was
removed from the water it was placed tn
the basement OF Estes 4 Weddings store
and for hours Main street in that locality
was thronged with people anxious to view
the remains. and nearly every one had
some theory to advance as to the cause
which lead to death.
At clock in the afternoon a coropeF's
inquest was held at the court house. l.
large crowd assembled there to hear evil
the matter. The jury, after hearing the
evidence OF many witnesses, decided that
the deceased came to his death BY acct.
dental drowning. and so rendered their
verdict. Doctors Harvie. Nelson and Cab
ell examined the body carefully and no
signs of violence could be discovered save
bad looking mark in the left eye, and
they pronounced that fracture as having
been made before the body entered the
water. Sunday evening the remains were
removed to his residence on Grove street
1t Is said Mr.. While was great sufferer
from neuralgia and was in the habit Of
stopping at Brydon's drug store very often
of late to get something for his relief.
One witness testified that he saw him at the
| front door Saturday night about II o'clock
trying to get in. 1t is supposed that fail
ing he went to the rear door of the drug
store (Which is only a few feet from the
| canal) to arouse the clerk from sleep. Ii
| being very dark and the bottom step lead
ing up to the back door missing, IL Is
thought that while descending the stair
| way he fell, plunged into the canal and
was drowned. The conclusion reached Is
quite plausible, AS the space between the
| steps and the canal is steep and the water
seven feet deep. The general belief is that
| the scar in the eye was received In the fall
by striking some object.
His watch was found to be wound up
| tight and to have stopped running at eigh-
| teen minutes past eleven o'clock. No
money was found i'm his pockets and up to
this writing his hat has not been found.
| Mr.. White was about 80 years of age and
a native of Pittsylvania county. His ia
| Their, Mr.. Richard White, lives at Chatham.
| Two sisters, Mrs. j. NJ. Hutchingsand Mrs.
j. d. Blair, live in this city. This blow
| falls especially heavy on Mrs. Hutchings,
| whose husband was accidentally killed less
than two months ago.
Mr.. White has been an active business
man here for several years. He was in the
harness business and also proprietor of q
livery stable and transfer line.
| His remains were taken to Chatham for
burial. He leaves wife and eight chill
dren.
| Sunday evening Mrs. Goodall, Of Baton
Rouge, Louisiana, delivered a temperance
lecture at Main street Methodist church 70
large audience. She organized a Ladies'
| Temperance Union; about seventy-five
ladies joined the order. AS it is unusual
for female speaker to address Danyille
audience many of both sexes, no doubt
| went to hear her out of curiosity. She says
the ladies who have Incorporate husbands
and brothers are the greatest sufferers from
the evils of liquor and therefore they
should be earnest workers for the cause Of
temperance. She has a pleasant manner
and is an enthusiastic advocate of prOhibi.
ton. Her remarks were we'll delivered
and showed great study and preparation
The new iron bridge across the Dan was
opened for travel last Thursday. 1t Is .
very fine structure and splendid piece Of
| work. The side walk ways have not ye
been completed, but will be soon, and thu
side iron ratings will be painted green
The bridge will be an ornament, as we'll a
a necessity, for the two cities when all worl
is finished. Many speeches were made
the day travel was resumed, but Mai. Suth
~" w. Wv j. ". B.